2025 Diversity Summit

Courageous Persistence: Advancing Cultural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace. In an era where inclusion is not just a value but a necessity, legal and HR professionals are at the forefront of shaping culturally competent, equitable workplaces. This event will explore how courageous persistence – through policy, advocacy, and intentional leadership-can break down systemic barriers and champion authentic diversity; and will offer insight, tools, and inspiration to help legal and HR leaders drive lasting, meaningful change by embracing the power of diverse voices and experiences.

Radical Hospitality: A Transformative Approach to Inclusion in the Workplace

In this powerful and thought-provoking session, Dr. Lawrence Chatters—renowned psychologist, higher education leader, and national expert on inclusive strategy—introduces Radical Hospitality as a bold framework for advancing workplace inclusion. Rooted in empathy, authenticity, and intentional care, Radical Hospitality goes beyond conventional DEI efforts by fostering environments where all individuals feel genuinely seen, heard, and valued. Dr. Chatters will explore how organizations can increase care for their teams, promote understanding across diverse identities, and recognize everyday leadership at all levels. Through practical examples and engaging storytelling, he will illuminate how cultivating trust, practicing unbiased engagement, and showing deep respect are not only ethical imperatives—but strategic advantages.

Participants will leave with actionable insights on how to create spaces that exude empathy and prioritize connection over compliance. Whether you’re a senior leader or a front-line team member, this session will challenge you to rethink inclusion and embrace hospitality as a revolutionary tool for organizational culture and success.

Voices of Resilience: Navigating Life as an Immigrant or Refugee

In this talk, Astrid Munn, a managing attorney at the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA), explores the lived experiences of immigrants and refugees—not only those served by her agency but also the diverse staff who make the work possible. Drawing on CIRA’s multicultural team and mission, she will reflect on the challenges of building an inclusive workplace that honors cultural identity while navigating American professional norms. She will also share stories of resilience from clients facing fear, displacement, and systemic barriers—and offer insight into how the legal community can better support these communities with empathy, respect, and action.

Speaking Truth – Fr. John Markoe and the Omaha DePorres Club

Fr. John Markoe's leadership of the Omaha DePorres Club and its pioneering Civil Rights campaigns in Omaha from 1947 to 1960 came near the end of his five decades as a racial justice pioneer, during which, as one fellow Jesuit recalled, he was “steadfast in doing all he could, the best he could, to speak truth to denial and complacency.” Stressing the immorality of racism, Markoe and the Omaha DePorres Club pushed for new legal and civic interventions as well as the need to support existing legal structures – as Markoe put it; “we certainly cannot legislate for good will, but we can protect against these immoral acts (of discrimination and segregation) by reminding the public that it should serve the law.” Markoe’s emphasis on the immorality of racism kept him and the Omaha DePorres Club from losing focus as they faced resistance on all fronts in their battle to challenge Omaha’s systemic racism.

Immigration Policy in Action:  Navigating Changing Expectations and Implications

This session will focus on how changes in administration can change the expectations immigrants and refugees will encounter and how to navigate those changes by staying informed and understanding the far-reaching implications.